Where Lies and Truth mingle

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She wasn't sure when she managed to glide down but she had about a few hours later. Swooping up high to avoid detection as she slipped into the long tunnel that led to the outside world. One of the very few exits and one she often went too when she was feeling too stuffy.

Feet planted down into the sand that filtered into the mouth of the cavern, her rear following suit as she plopped down to feel the sun's rays streaming over her cold body. Pale blue eyes lifting upwards to squint through the light until they adjusted looking at the open blue sky above with longing. But she wouldn't. Mar'luin didn't want to risk them being found, so she was content sitting at the front entrance, just a shade out of sight but enough to bask in the warmth.

Quiet of the breeze overheard was enough to relive the tense staleness that clung around her body, ears dipping low as Eryn made a low sorrow ridden warble. Feeling like a bird in a cage in numerous ways but knowing this was all for her own safety.

Didn't mean she enjoyed it.

A niggling of her mind wanted nothing more than to escape. Go out of the cavern and just fly away. Experience new serenity, and not having to hide.

Letting her eyes close, shivering from the warmth on the stony flesh; she sighed out. "Anything is better than here." she managed to portray the words effectively without a slip.
 
Roman finally felt like he was merely going in circles after sufficient time to think and he knew that was the point in time to stop thinking so much about the subject he was on. Only by letting it settle for a time would he come to new conclusions. So he finally stretched from his form and ran his fingers back through his hair with a wearied sigh before standing. He'd shifted a few hours before after the children had woken for lunch and he'd taken food with them before their parents had ushered them away to another cavern, leaving Roman with his thoughts.

Thoughts that he was now thoroughly tired of and so was easily distracted from.

Gray eyes watched Eryn glide down from her nest and Roman hesitated in following her, but almost felt compelled to do so, his body moving before his conscious mind had decided and he simply let it after that. When she came to a place of sunlight, Roman was glad for more reasons than one that he'd followed, his eyes drinking in the daylight again, craving it after nearly a month underground.

He honestly did not understand how the Harpies could have lived so long this way and once again he recognized the cruelty of his ancestors, ancient and recent, in keeping them here. And once more he silently vowed to right the wrong even as he slowly came toward Eryn, not wanting to scare her, but sensing she already knew of his presence even as he sat near her, but not close enough to invade personal space. He'd been taught to keep distance after all, it wasn't even something he really thought of doing anymore, but just did.

"It won't be this way forever." he offered quietly in response to her own words, agreeing with her nonetheless as he looked out to the world beyond, itching to rejoin it once more.
 
She offered up a shy look through the corner of her eye, letting the stone wash coloured hair drag forward to touch her brow as she wasn't sure she felt the merit behind his answer. She wanted to believe it, but as far back as she could remember, they were underground. And she had other reasons for what she said but that wasn't worth gabbing over.

Knitting her hands together, twiddling her thumbs over the other in an endless circle; Eryn stared off towards the blue sky. Towards that mocking freedom.

"You don't... stay." she quibbled lightly sensing his desire to go out into the world. "You not like us. Not have to fight for freedom. Have others," Eryn drew her knees up into her chest, wrapping her arms around them to rest her chin upon her knee. "Sirens called you said. They need you, Mar'luin said."

Her mouth dared to open for another comment paused as she instantly turned rigid and skittered back like a bullet from a gun deeper into the dark of the cavern.

A loud thud came to the ground with a flutter of furious wings, crimson pale eyes moved over the mouth with purpose. Standing an alarming six foot and eight inches tall, his wings were easily the largest of the harpies and he carried a presence around himself that screamed high born. He was the same ranking as Yulin but he was no stranger in carrying out what he sought was right. Even over Mar'luin's wisdom.

A single white scar from another claw ran down the length of his strong face, into the scruff of a beard down along his neck that made his looks appear all that much more frightening. Eryn had dropped down and was doing exactly what she had done to Roman. Baring her belly. She was afraid and it showed.

But this large harpy wasn't paying attention to her, he was looking directly at Roman.

"What in the greater gods is a shifter doing at our doors!" he hissed.

Eryn whimpered, "Talen.... Mar'luin saved-"

"Shut up whimpering whelp! Otherwise I'll happily silence you instead." He spat towards her, "I was asking the murderer."
 
Her comments had him shaking his head, ready to answer in his own way, explain that not only would it be dangerous for him to leave right now, but he also didn't WANT to leave her people like this, to abandon them as his ancestors before had done, but Roman never got the chance. Eryn's actions alarmed him instantly, making him rise to crouch, careful to stay in the shadows in case what she'd sensed had been an enemy - a Shifter if he was honest with himself - but at the sight of the Harpy in the cavern entrance, Roman felt his instincts snarl to attention far more severely than they would have if it had been one his own kind.

And he wasn't sure if the instant dislike he felt was because of the red-eyed Harpy itself or Eryn's reaction to the other male. Something told him as he stood that it was both, but more heavily on the latter. He'd learned to start trusting the female Harpy's instincts just as he did his own, though, hers were admittedly far sharper than his when it came to distinguishing the character of a person.

This one was bad.

He gave off the same kind of aura Cesar had, that his Uncle did and Roman bristled against it even before the male spoke. As the other talked, Roman scanned him, taking in little facts that he would compile information on later, not intimidated by Talen's size, easily as tall as Sione, but not as hulking, more of an eagle's grace to the Harpy. But the size didn't phase him. He'd been looked down on his whole life, even at his own tall six feet, two inches, and Roman knew size wasn't everything.

But he could see this Harpy liked to use it and his impressive wingspan, his overbearing aura, to put those he thought lesser than him in their place. And Eryn, his sweet friend, was terrified. It set the ember within him into a flame and Roman moved without thinking, with the lethal elegance of a tiger as he smoothly placed himself between Talen and Eryn, the transition so fluid it might not even have been truly noted by a lesser warrior or even thought important, but Roman knew Talen wasn't so oblivious. The actions would speak loud enough to him.

"You might have been asking me, but she gave you the true answer nonetheless. I am here by Mar'luin's invitation. And I am hardly a murderer to any of your kin." His gray eyes flashed, his body deceptively relaxed, but beneath ready to strike at a moment's notice, the anger within him begging to be put to some use.
 
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"A bit of a twinkle toes are yah." Talen narrowed an eye as he kept his presence foreboding. It might not be bothering this creature but he had a sick satisfaction watching the damn empath cower. She had learnt years ago that he was the better of the two, and if it hadn't been for her damn elder kin he might have been able to rid the harpies of her too. Empath's were trouble. "Hardly a murderer to my kin, you dare say."

Eryn creened pitifully as he threw a look down to her that had her scrambling back even further. If she could have melted to the ground, she would have. "You killed my brother back when Yulin and her were sent to get you. Yah, you are a murderer. But I suppose we both understand that in war, there are causalities."

Brushing roughly aside from Roman, Talen get out a hard chuckle making a dart fake out at Eryn that had the female shivering and rolling up in a ball. "Pathetic." he muttered, eyes flowing back to Roman, "You're the prince of the shifters, blood follows your life just like it does mine. Let's keep that common knowledge. I don't care what Mar'luin has done or what will do but you best watch your back. Not all harpies are happy to share anything with a monster like you." Red eyes looked down again, "Eryn get back into the cave, you know damn well you are not allowed to the surface. Probably just screw things up like usual." she bucked her chin in acceptance, turned hard to her flank running into the side of the cavern wall with a yelp and went tearing down the entrance way back into the depths as if there was fire hot on her tail.

A cruel smirk and the male started walking back down, "Good way to get killed is being close to the entrance shifter, better stay low or better yet, do us all a favour and walk out there." he made a low cuffing brush out towards the barren lands, "Get yourself killed. One less I'll have to deal with."
 
Hate, strong and thick, roiled its way through the Shifter as he watched Talen walk away, his teeth grit to keep a tight control on his burning tongue, fingers curling into fists when the other was out of sight as his entire form gave a tremble with the self-restraint he imposed on himself. Gray eyes snapped back to the barren landscape as Roman forced himself to breathe, a hiss through his teeth before he unclenched his jaw and closed his eyes, uncurling his fists, willing the anger to simmer down again.

It fought him the entire way.

Every inch of him wanted to fight, to lash out against the other male. Not for his words, no not that. Did Talen think that was the first time he'd been called a monster? A murderer? The first time he'd been threatened or told that death followed him? No. He'd heard such from his OWN people and certainly from those he'd fought. The words hardly effected him, though, he did give the proper serious attention the threats deserved. But the rest was just a scathing tongue, his thick skin deflecting it like a second-nature.

It was the threats against Eryn that made his blood heat. Watching her so scared, so docile, watching the bright light of intelligence flee her eyes was what had nearly made him forgo all the training his years had given him and he didn't entirely understand why and didn't care. What he'd cared about, all he'd been able to see was the alarming manner in which Eryn behaved and all he'd felt was the fierce, overwhelming desire to protect her.

He felt like he'd failed, remembering the yelp she'd given, how fast she'd taken off. He'd done nothing and Roman could not reconcile within himself if that was a good thing or a bad thing. To get in a fight with a Harpy now would have been nothing but detrimental to the peace they were working toward, so fragile and new, but...protecting Eryn...it would have given his heart peace that eluded him now.

Mind over heart. That's what he'd been taught. Never had he wished until this moment that he could forget his mind and simply do as he felt was right.

The thought brought a soft snarl to Roman's throat before he turned away and back into the tunnel, moving quickly along the passageways that were becoming familiar to him, already shifting into his hawk form when he came into the large cavern and flying his way up to a familiar roost, suspecting it to be a place Eryn might have retreated to.

The hawk landed on the nest itself and gave a short screech, announcing itself before Roman tilted his head, a question in his raptor gray eyes. He would leave if she wanted, but he wished to stay.
 
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She had buried herself right into a corner of her roost, forgoing her nest as she shuttered violently against the raging emotions of herself and those of so many others. Hands gripped around her head as her chin rested against the ground, panicking to quell the rise of overwhelming thunder that threatened to take her under.

The screech snapped her eyes open as Eryn actually let out a hiss suddenly lashing out. Pupils usually wide were stretched into demonic pupils, teeth baring as tears streamed downwards in rivers. Animalistic, the harpy was still nothing short than an beast and she had been surprised and felt threatened. Though she made no effort to try to attack the hawk. Realization dawned quickly as Eryn fell back into the tight corner, "No no no no," she repeated, gripping her hands around her head and slammed her eyes shut. "Much... too much." Eryn wallowed openly, "No close. No touch... too much. Too much...." she was in a fit of hysterics, struggling evidently as she dug the talons into her crown, letting out a screech of her own that only resonated through the halls before she rolled herself up into a tight fetal ball.

It was like a summoning almost, large gaping wings snapped shut as Yulin seemingly appeared out of no where. Tossing a look to the perched hawk that was Roman before he inched on his hands and knees forward towards that of the terrified harpy female, unusually careful though keeping the flawless composure that was nothing short than familiar; Eryn jerked upwards as the elder of the two nudged her. Like a crack of a whip, Eryn lunged at her own kin in a feral nature snapping her teeth into his shoulder and driving the talons into either arm to pierce blood that only managed to get a grunt out from Yulin. A guttural growl came out of the female as she tore the fangs along flesh to bare the dark miscoloured cruor, Yulin warbled gently to her.

Another pinch of her talons and Eryn released all to return the warble - intelligence returning to the raging eyes- blinking once. Twice, the young thing went limp into her brother's chest as he exhaled heavily. Clearing his throat, looking slowly towards Roman; he raised a brow with question. "You aren't harmed are you, Roman?" Funny it was that question that came out from the harpy male, but it was genuine while he sorted Eryn's frame around to sit comfortably, showing that he was fiercely protective of the younger of the two.
 
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To say Roman was shocked by Eryn's behavior would have been going too far. To say he was startled would be more appropriate. He had seen just how animalistic the Harpies could be, how they behaved together when stressed, when threatened or angry. There was usually a lot of primal lashing out, animal behavior. He knew Eryn was capable of such behavior even if he'd never seen it from her before and she'd just been threatened, terrified by one of her own kind. The aggressive behavior was not shocking, but to have it aimed at him was unexpected and when she lashed out at him, Roman screeched again on instinct and hopped back, beating his wrings furiously.

His hawk-indignation was cut short by his logical mind becoming instantly worried for Eryn as she curled back into herself again, looking more and more distressed. Her words twisted his heart and Roman started to shift back, unsure how he would comfort her, but wishing to do just that. He didn't get the chance though and watched carefully how Yulin handled the younger, smaller Harpy, sharp mind storing away the information for there might come a time when Eryn did this again and her brother by heart would be unavailable.

Roman didn't know where that thought came from, but he decided not to question it for the time-being.

Instead he shook his head to the male Harpy's question and slowly climbed into the nest, careful to stay away from the two, not wanting to trigger Eryn again, though, she looked much more frail and herself now.

The Shifter suspected that could change in a heartbeat and he sat slowly on the far end of the nest, legs crossed, but his entire body ready to leap into action if it needed to. It was not that he distrusted Eryn, but he'd been around enough unpredictable Shifters to know that it was better to be prepared to leap back than to get a shoulder full of sharp claws or a savage bite because he wasn't swift enough to get out of the way.

He had enough faint scars from childhood to have learned his lesson very well indeed.

Roman also didn't want to crowd Eryn and when he spoke, it was softly in hopes of not aggravating her. It was the last thing he wanted to do. No, what he wanted was to fly off and give Talen a beating he'd never forget...or to hold Eryn and reassure her that she was safe....but neither seemed like a wise choice for multiple reasons and once more, quietly, the Prince grumbled at his more logical mind.

His gray eyes stayed on Eryn and then went to Yulin, steady and calm. "Does Talen single her out often?"
 
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His brow twitched before the entire thing furrowed tight together at the mention of Talen. Yulin wasn't generally one to get emotional or even heated, but the mere name was enough to raise his hackles and bring a dark eye towards Roman. Towards, not at him.

Eryn clung close as she was attempting to gather her wits back around herself, murmuring softly, chirping others.

"Talen singles out anyone he feels like. He doesn't care for Eryn because of her nature. If he thinks something is a weakness, then it pecks and threatens it. He is nothing more than a coward that berates others. Eryn is just one who won't fight back so she makes a good target." Yulin exhaled roughly, "You met him?" It was evident that Yulin had not yet seen the returning harpy which could decidedly be a good thing.
 
Yulin's reaction told him more than the Harpy's words ever could and Roman felt the anger inside him twist into a tighter coil, feeling far more justified now as he filled in the blanks and the things Yulin didn't say. After witnessing Eryn and Talen together, hearing the dark Harpy speak and seeing how Eryn reacted afterward, it was rather pathetically easy for the Prince to draw a picture of how things had been for Eryn with Talen around.

Oh, yes, he was going to have a very hard time convincing the rage within him that it wasn't righteously entitled to lash out at the large, arrogant, cruel Harpy.

"I have met him." Roman offered back in a quiet way, but it was not meekness, nor uncertainty or fear that made him so. One only had to look at the hard flint, the brewing storm within his gray eyes to see it was something far different that drove the Shifter to this calm, soft state. A deceptive one in the extreme.

Roman took a slow, careful breath. "Apparently I killed his brother and by such I am murderer, and a monster." He said it factually, showing no indication that the words themselves had bothered him. And such was mostly true.
 
Fate was unfortunate for Roman but there was truth as well. Yulin was no stranger to the fuming glint rising in Roman's eyes, nor a stranger to feeling it as well but it did strike Yulin odd that the prince was in the first place. He only had been with the harpies for a month now. Eryn only a few days longer. To see him getting frustrated was unusual. Not that Yulin thought it bad, just strange.

"Yes well," he began diverting his eyes down to Eryn. Her pale eyes were watching but she wasn't fully aware yet. "Ollo made his choice. We all knew that day could be our last. We are warriors and Talen should know that. You aren't a murderer or monster, Roman. We both know that. If you were, I doubt we'd be sitting here or you'd be welcome in Eryn's nest."

Talen.... He was a problem no doubt about that. But now it could mean trouble. Roman could be endangered. "Things are dangerous now with him. Eryn will refuse to leave her roost and there are still important matters to attend to that involve the pair of you." shifting his weight, Yulin's green eyes were on Roman. "Talen will have made a goal by now to destroy you, Roman. What will you do?"
 
Roman nodded slowly to Yulin's words, again feeling no desire to answer verbally, nothing to say on the matter. Whether he was a monster or not, a murderer or not was something only he could prove and the Shifter knew well enough what he DIDN'T want to be and what he would strive TO BE. Whether Talen would acknowledge it or not, however, was the Harpy's choice, not Roman's. As a child he'd tried to change opinions around him by doing his best, by trying to live up to the standards around him, but he'd only found himself pulled in too many directions at once, displeasing three people for every one he satisfied.

In the end, he'd learned that doing what he knew was right, trying his hardest to do the things that he felt important to pursue or had to know was the wisest course to go and those who didn't like it would never change their minds anyway. It wasn't what he was doing that they disliked, it was HIM they didn't agree with.

It had been a harsh, trying lesson, but he'd learned it well and the Prince applied it now.

Of course, an entirely different situation was being addressed now and Roman brushed his hand through his dark hair, hearing the beads in it clink together before he released a quiet sigh and appeared thoughtful for a long moment before answering. He knew what he WANTED to do, but would it be the wisest course? What could it spell for the relationship between the Shifters and Harpies? Their 'truce' was between him and Mar'luin only. It didn't even include the rest of his people. He was the only one the Harpies could look to for a view on what his people could be like at their best.

They already knew them at their worst and Roman didn't want to reinforce that.

But he couldn't very well let Talen kill him, either.

The Prince finally uttered a curse in a language that didn't belong to the Shifters but rather the Sirens and drew in a breath, raising his gray eyes to meet Yulin's green. "I've had many people trying to destroy me since I was young, Yulin. Talen will not find it as easy as he might think, but in the event that he tries, I will defend myself. I will not strike first, though. I seek peace with your people, I will not risk that falling through unduly, but nor will I roll over for Talen."
 
Now his turn to nod in response, Eryn's shuffling seemed more coherent as she drew back and looked curiously up to Yulin and then sideways towards Roman. Though the second was far shier than usual and she squished down into her brother fearing that Roman could possibly be thinking the worst of her.

Drawing in a patient breath to fill his lungs, letting it draw out shortly after to fuss a hand through the smaller females crown, "We have much to do to attain that peace of course. You have made a good impression on many of us Roman, but of course you'd understand that there will and always can be people that will not even trust your truest of intentions. Talen will find those ones and work them against you. But with Mar'luin in your favour, hopefully everything will be nothing more than a squabble." Green took on a feral glint, "I'd be happily standing in your favour as well if that time rises."

Shuffling out of her brother's grasp scooting back into the small nook that had been carved out to cup a hand full of water to her mouth, Eryn lifted her shoulders to sit with her hands to the ground. She was evidently aware better than before as Yulin looked at her. Warbling in their own language, Eryn shied further even from Yulin but nodded nonetheless. A smirk and a chuckle, Yulin tilted his focus to Roman. "If you are certain," he spoke it towards Eryn, rising up "I'll address my tender spots. If you need anything Eryn you know where I'll be."

"Yes..." she kept her gaze away from Roman, clearly ashamed of herself.

Correcting his stance getting ready to glide down to the cavern floor, he paused. Looking again at Roman. "Do you know what you want to do next? What will you do now Roman. You are healed and you have gained Mar'luins trust. He wanted to let you know that you are allowed to leave the cavern as well. Do as you see fit."
 
Roman knew Yulin spoke true and accepted his words, also knowing that his own people would possibly cause more of the trouble than the Harpies. Such was why it was imperative to him to help these winged creatures understand that while the Shifters were flawed, they were not all evil. Many - most if he dared say it even to himself - were ignorant of what was going on between the two species. They didn't know any better and Roman wanted to convey that even if their first reactions were not favorable, that didn't mean there could be no peace, that all hope was lost.

If he could somehow show that with his own actions, his words, with just his own life as example, he knew he would do nothing short of killing himself trying. He wanted to save his people and though Roman knew that not all would agree on peace, he also knew the majority ruled. It was the approval of the majority he was trying to win - but not without honesty for he'd learned that Harpies honored that above all else.

Hence the reason for his answer now as he looked from Eryn to Yulin, smiling a bit wryly. "Express my gratitude to Lord Mar'luin for I know you seek his council often. And please inform him that I mean to see the Sirens, my kin. I will heed the Dragon's advice in that matter."

Gray eyes went back to Eryn then, suspecting that Yulin would not give more than a cursory nod and the Prince tilted his head in curious, disarming and questioning manner, a smile tugging at his lips. He didn't try to move, though, having seen that Eryn didn't even want the touch of her heart-brother at the moment. He wouldn't presume to think she'd want him any closer than he already was.

"Feeling a bit better now?"
 
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As Yulin dropped off the roost, Eryn sheepishly rubbed a hand over a forearm keeping her gaze downwards though it often flicked upwards to take a roundabout look over the prince. If there was anything about Eryn it was her wanting to keep herself reasonable. Approachable and in turn she had shown a wicked side of herself that could have attacked that of the prince. It might have not been too big of deal to another, but to her... it was tormenting knowledge.

She let too much get to her and it became chaos in which she could have easily lunged and tried to kill off the prince. Not that she ever thought she could succeed. But the thought had been there.

Giving a low whistle and another flicking look at the prince, she rocked her head back and forth signifying she was alright but not a hundred percent. "Sorry." she mumbled firstly, "Didn't meant to... maybe safer if Roman go... not near. Ever." she was trying to be protective for his sake, she didn't like being uncontrollable.

Not when it meant possibly injuring someone that was important to her. Not that she said that but she knew that Roman was something, someone she wanted to keep alive. Keep safe.
 
Roman knew he'd probably always be curious about the various sounds the Harpies made, but he had to admit to himself that Eryn's sounds in particular fascinated him if only because he wanted to understand her so much. The noises she made to communicate seemed to be a partial key to that, and Roman was dutiful to make mental notes of them, but strangely, more of him was purely interested in hearing her make the ones he knew meant happier things.

Somehow, the whistle didn't seem to convey a happier emotion and Roman resisted a sigh, unsure why the inclination struck him and so refusing it allowance from his mouth. He hated when his body reacted to things his mind didn't understand.

It was definite amusement that elicited the soft, half-chuckle from him, though, and that Roman did understand as he shook his head with a slight smile to Eryn. "Little bird, you startled me, that's all. I'm not alarmed by what you did, though, and frankly, I have seen far worse and felt far worse. You didn't even touch me, Eryn. I'm not injured and while I don't doubt that you could have injured me, perhaps even kill me, I have no fear or you and no desire to keep away from you."

He shrugged, an eyebrow quirked beneath his hair. "You're still stuck with me."
 
Water dripped down in swimming rivers pooling beneath the being as the sound of dripping fell into the pool. Feathers ruffled in response, glistening in the clean sheen giving a brilliant pop to the intricate detail of blue on each; she could hear the sound of others further down.

Yulin had been standing guard on the outside, pacing from what she could tell even from here. The commotion was nothing to be surprised about. And she knew it wouldn't be the last one either.

Talen was ever so famous for striking more than once.

Raking her talons through the crown of slick, crouched on the cavern floor as she dried herself off her ears prickled listening with the utmost patience. Mar'luin had been impressed to hear that Roman wanted to see his other half of blood but there was great worry in the air about it. Talen.... he had brought back world that there were hunting parties looking for the prince. And they were coming all too close to the cavern. Bloodshed had ensued not even a night ago when Yulin and Talen both went out to remove the sniffing rats from finding them. Though it hardly ended there.

Return to the cave and Talen had made the announcement to throw Roman out to protect the rest of them. Not only Roman but her as well. Since she was tainted now. A shifter lover as he called it.

The sound of his lies was disgusting but it was nothing in comparison to the crack of bone. Leave it to Yulin to unleash on the harpy male. The squabble happened so quickly that she barely had time to realize what occurred. It wasn't until Talen was stumbling back from Yulin that she knew her brother had laid the first blow.

Mar'luin had to intervene of course, Yulin suspended for a few days alongside Talen - neither to allowed to seek council with the great dragon. Hence why her brother was sticking oddly close to her.

Not to say the bath was terrible, rather it was quite enjoyable. But she was worried of course. He was fuming still, pacing like an animal before the mouth to the underwater spring. Determined to protect not only her but Roman as well.

At all means.
 
Roman had known the quiet couldn't last long.

He'd known it, but seeing it crumble around him was more disconcerting than he'd thought it would be. Telling Mar'luin of his plans had stirred up more problems than it had solved and Roman knew that many now wished he'd simply go. Whether they wished him ill-will or not in that desire was another factor, but all the same, he was making it more dangerous for them by being here. And many, a great many, were questioning whether, if it came to it, he could turn on his own kind again.

The Prince hadn't known about the Shifters in rat form killed until after the fact and it had brought a sick feeling over him that he couldn't deny. He had no way to knowing if they were corrupt or innocent scouts just doing as they were told, not until he saw the bodies. Roman had done so in relative secret - though, he knew Mar'luin and probably Yulin were aware of his activities - and later had wept to find that three out of the seven re-shifted corpses had been scouts he knew, Shifters he knew to be loyal to the crown, but not corrupt.

Roman had said nothing of it. He'd given no further indication that he cared, had treated the Yulin and Eryn, the Harpy children he played with, those he talked to no differently than before, but his heart was heavier and it grew hot with anger far more easily hearing Talen's accusations. He'd felt an uncharacteristic satisfaction in hearing Talen's bone snap - whichever one it was - but had not intervened in the matter.

In fact, the Prince had all but disappeared for the first two days after the fight between the two Harpies. He had needed time to think and think he had, hidden away in a small cavern even the children Harpies could not get into, his ferret form a great deal smaller than them. He knew some wondered if he'd left, but Roman had not cared at that point, knowing he needed to come to a decision before things got worse - and he knew they would the longer he stayed. He'd become more divided in his loyalties until he screwed up somehow and Talen would pounce on every opportunity to turn his people against the Shifter. No, it would be wiser for him to leave while they still looked on him with kindness.

But needing to leave and being able to were greatly different realities.

If Talen's reports were true, Roman knew that the chances of him getting away from here - while not giving away the Harpies location - and then getting to the Siren city of Olecia were slim. Very slim. But what else could he do? If he didn't leave, no progress would be made and the situation would only deteriorate further until there was no coming back from it.

Which would surely please Talen and Roman would be damned if he was going to make it easier on the arrogant Harpy.

When Roman finally emerged from his hiding, it was with a clearer head, but not clear answers and it frustrated him. BUT, it was said a wise man had many counselors and perhaps what he could not figure out on his own, others might have a suggestion to. So it was with that in mind that Roman shifted back up to his birth-form and headed out in search of Yulin and Eryn.
 
They had made their way back into the common room of the cavern, sitting off by themselves as Yulin was crankier than normal. His hackles raised as he kept a watchful eye on the scenery of bodies and that of herself.

Splitting in half a large melon to offer half up to him, he took it wearily before letting out a heavy sigh. "We cannot lurk much longer, Eryn." taking a bite chewing slowly, thoughtfully over his own words, Yulin lifted his green eyes to met her own pale blue. "We need stronger allies and with Talen poisoning to many minds with false lies, we are in dangerous waters."

Eryn paused in her own bite and gave him a side look. "I am not strong. Not ready for it." she had been effortlessly working on her speech with Yulin while Roman had disappeared - Mar'luin forbidding most from looking seemingly knowing the shifter needed time to mulled through his own thoughts.

"We are lead by empath's Eryn. You are the first and last in the past generation."

"Cannot." she bit into the fruit to silence herself.

"You just need practice. But the longer we forgo it, the sooner Talen is going to corrupt our people into rising into an attack that we are not ready for."

"Cannot." she repeated. "Still unbalanced. Still have plenty of issues trying to sort through my own emotions and others. Difficult yet Yulin."
 
Roman caught the last bit of conversation as he came closer and while curiosity stirred in his mind, he didn't question what he'd overheard, able to guess just a bit as to what it pertained to anyway. He wasn't stupid, nor blind and while he didn't know a great deal about Harpies, even now, he had been paying close attention to the ones he DID have some kind of relationship with, Eryn especially. The fact that she seemed so attuned to the emotions of others, the word 'empath' he'd heard more than once and the little bits of conversation he'd picked up without meaning to all pointed toward one solution.

Eryn was an Empath who didn't have a great deal of control on her power.

Now, what that meant, what she could do or what her people felt about her heritage, that was harder to pinpoint, but Roman was sure his hunch was not wrong.

It was also none of his business at this time and he knew it rude to interrupt a conversation that had not included him or one that didn't involve him. So he came to sit quietly near the two, no announcement in the action or explanation for where he'd been as Roman had learned that the Harpies didn't much care about such things. He'd seen Eryn come to Yulin after days of hiding away, no words passing between them, just acceptance for the presence of the other once more and he knew the same would be extended to him.

Besides, it wasn't like they hadn't known where he was, of that he was sure.

The Shifter reached for a fruit without a word, but didn't eat from it, moving it about in his hands as he looked from Yulin to Eryn and then down again before speaking. "I need to leave." He paused, not exactly letting it sink in as he knew they knew, but gathering his thoughts before going on. "I don't want to risk your people with my staying OR my departing, but I am unsure how to keep them safe. I could us another's advice."
 
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